t a rocket flew into the night air high above the heads of the
combatants, to give notice to their comrades that the attack was begun.
The ladders were placed in position, and up they climbed, in a way
British seamen only can climb, each eager to be first, and yet one
helping on the other in the noble race of honour. In vain the sentries
and a few men left on guard rushed out to oppose the assailants, and
shouted and bawled to their comrades to hurry to their assistance. A
pistol bullet or the stroke of a cutlass silenced the voice of many a
boasting Frenchman for ever.

The English had made good their footing in the fort, but before they had
time to advance, they found themselves opposed by the whole garrison,
who, though just awakened from sleep, surprised and bewildered, fought
with the fury of desperation. They had, however, seized in the hurry
and darkness the weapons which first came to hand, and many were but
imperfectly armed. Now they were driven back--now more of the officers
coming among them, they again rallied and stood bravely for a few
minutes, but every foot of ground Morton and his followers gained they
kept, and onward they fought their way. The pistol shots, and shouts,
and cries from the other forts, and high above all, the true hearty
English cheers to which the seamen gave vent, showed the enemy that they
were attacked by no insignificant force. By whom they were attacked
they probably could not tell, till those well-known cheers reached their
ears. Still they bravely stood their ground.

"On, lads, on!" shouted Morton, laying about him with his cutlass more
furiously than ever. He began to be afraid, from the pertinacity of the
Frenchmen, that they expected reinforcements. Again the British seamen
made a fierce charge; those of the enemy in the front rank were cut down
or driven back upon their companions in the rear. They in their turn
gave way, and the whole body of Frenchmen took a hurried flight across
the fort, with the intention of escaping through the gate on the land
side. This was what Morton was especially anxious they should not do.
He dashed after them like a dog endeavouring to turn a flock of sheep.
He and several of his followers reached the gate almost at the same
moment, but not in time to stop them. Out dashed the Frenchmen, driving
each other forward. The British seamen followed close upon their heels,
cutting down those they could overtake, but they in their fall s